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Wang PC-240-3 (was 'dr_sponge')

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:54 am
by SpidersWeb
Does he visit these boards?

Quite interested in his Wang PC/240. Especially since I have the original installation disks for that specific model - even Windows 1.03!

Re: dr_sponge

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 9:13 am
by YetiSeti
Nice guy to deal with. I think I have bought more from him than anyone else on trademe. I'm sure I have mentioned the boards to him before or linked him some threads. Do you want his email? With the thousands of things I have in the collection, I know everything I have (which might explain why I have no room in the noggin to remember anyone's name or face), but I am always surprised to see him express surprise on his auctions uncovering things he didn't know or remember having. Webbles is another one with the "today I have found for you..."

Re: dr_sponge

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:03 am
by SpidersWeb
I think I have his email address tucked away somewhere as I've traded with him before, think it was some Amiga games. I guess I should make use of that.

I've bought a few things off webbles in the past too. Everything untested I've purchased off him has worked flawlessly, so he must look after his gear. Both good traders.

I'm like them, forget I have things, I wanted to build another Pentium tweener the other day and went in to the garage - found a bunch of Pentium towers that I'd completely forgotten about! Also had a clean up of floppy drives and oh my I have a lot more than I thought. I can't find my 5170 motherboard though, which is weird, I must have put it somewhere 'safe'.

Re: dr_sponge

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:38 am
by SpidersWeb
Cheers, yep that's in my address book.
Might want to edit that out though, just in case he doesn't want his address published.

Re: dr_sponge

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:30 pm
by SpidersWeb
hopefully they offered respectable discounts at least

Anywho, pretty confident it's a PC-240-3 (286-10, 20Mb, 640Kb), and I know I have the Wang PC-200/300 series install disks including DOS 3.2 and Windows 1. So it's pretty interesting, but could be a bit of a gamble considering cost after shipping (if he'll even allow that, not to mention if my partner will allow that). The disks also need cleaning as they have a couple of spots - I should probably clean and test those first at least.

Re: dr_sponge

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 9:52 pm
by SpidersWeb
Ok so it turns out I don't have DOS and Windows, but after hours of cleaning drives and disks I DO have:

- SETUP.COM / WSETUP / WWSETUP - this covers the entire PC200 and PC300 range and lets you set drive types/screen types etc
- SETCMOS WSETCMS WWSETCMS - not sure why this exists but it has a few extra options not in the above version
- SETSPEED (and the other versions) lets you change clock speed between 6 8 and 10Mhz at the command prompt
- HDINIT - low level hard drive formatter but oddly it seems to be expecting "ESDI"
- KBDRATE - sets the keyboard rate
- CONFIG - tell it what model you have, and what options you want, and it draws the motherboard switches on screen with ASCII (good idea Wang!)

and

PC Local Connection for DOS and Windows - emulates Wyse terminals and lets you connect to things through your WLOC card
A disk called "Windows 1.03" actually had two programs, not sure what they do, suspect they're extras for WLOC.
And, the Wang Expanded Memory Manager - lets you use EMS on your upgrade 286 or 386.

So even if I don't get it, if you guys find Wang PC-200 or 300 series machines give me a yell because I've got your configuration needs at hand apparently.


Edit: although, one negative for Mr Wang, 9 sectors per track, 40 tracks, 512 bytes a sector - but 300kbit data rate?
Edit2: toilet paper + isopropyl is a good way to remove crud off disks
Edit3: Teac 1.2Mb was the winner, YE Data and Pansonic JU-475 drives failed to read chunks of each disk, but the Teac plowed through like a champion.

Re: Wang PC-240-3 (was 'dr_sponge')

PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:15 pm
by SpidersWeb
Also found two manuals for it - box is for DOS but the books are for BASIC - as new.

No replies, so guessing he doesn't want to go to the effort of packaging/dragging for a 45 dollar item of that weight/size (can understand). Might try bribing with money.

Re: Wang PC-240-3 (was 'dr_sponge')

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:38 pm
by SpidersWeb
On it's way to my house as we speak.

woo!

Re: Wang PC-240-3 (was 'dr_sponge')

PostPosted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:16 pm
by SpidersWeb
Well it is a PC-240-3 :)

But... has soft start, a bit like ATX, the LED comes on when you press it but then fades away. Suspect either a short or PSU fault - but because of the way it works I can't really be sure until I spend time working out how it operates. Nothing looks bad, just non functioning.

The hard drive is gone. Floppy drive untested.

Re: Wang PC-240-3 (was 'dr_sponge')

PostPosted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:54 pm
by SpidersWeb
Removed a bad cap.
It lives!